Control system of exercise apparatuses for aid in group training

ABSTRACT

A control system of exercise apparatuses for aid in group training includes a primary electronic control console and several secondary electronic control consoles. A control software program, a message transmitter and a message receiver are installed in each of the electronic control consoles of the same exercise apparatuses for controlling the exercise apparatuses and recording the operation status thereof. They are regarded as a basic electronic control equipment. The primary electronic control console can receive all exercise messages transmitted from all of the secondary electronic control consoles. Thereafter, the exercise messages can be clearly displayed on a data display zone of a display. At the same time, the control instructions will be transmitted to each of the secondary electronic control console by use of an external control keyboard, the message transmitter, and the message receiver. In this way, the exercise resistance level of the exercise apparatuses can be remote-controlled, thereby achieving the expected training effect and ensuring the training safety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the Invention

The invention relates to a control system of exercise apparatuses for aid in group training, and more particularly, to a control system having a primary electronic control console (for the coach/trainer) to directly control the exercise resistance level of several secondary electronic control consoles (for the trainees). Meanwhile, the coach/trainer is able to keep track of the operation data of each secondary electronic control console for achieving the expected training and safety effect.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the modern fitness center, most of the fitness exercise apparatuses (such as fitness bikes, elliptical cross trainers, etc.) are similar. They are all separately controllable, especially with respect to the adjustment of the exercise resistance levels. For the individual use, an expected control function can be achieved without problem. However, it is not optimal for the group exercise teaching use (especially one-to-many teaching mode). In this case, a coach or a trainer has to employ verbal instructions to direct the trainees to simultaneously adjust the exercise resistance levels by use of the electronic console mounted on the exercise apparatus such that all of the trainees have the same exercise resistance level. Therefore, all of the trainees can achieve a more consistent exercise training/teaching effect.

When a coach or a trainer issues a training/teaching command, he cannot realize if all of their trainees do properly perform the exercise resistance level, unless he goes to check each electronic console on the exercise apparatus.

Moreover, each of the trainees does not have the same physical power. When they take the same exercise resistance level of the same exercise apparatus, they do different “exercise work”. As a result, there must be trainees who are physically not able to overcome the challenge of the exercise resistance level, thereby requiring the adjustment of the exercise resistance level during the workout session. However, a coach or a trainer cannot necessarily grasp this information and make appropriate response.

Thus, we all know that these so-called group fitness training/teaching courses requires the “consciousness” and “self-control” from all trainees before they achieve the desired training purposes. Moreover, the coach or the trainer also can not observe/control the training progress and status of each trainee throughout the workout session. Therefore, the vast majority of the trainees could drop out the training/teaching courses because they can not keep up with training progress. Some of them may feel frustrated since they fail to get the proper training effect and to achieve the learning purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a control system of exercise apparatuses for aid in group training wherein the exercise apparatus for the coach/trainer includes a primary electronic control console capable of clearly displaying the exercise state/data of each trainee. In this way, the coach/trainer is able to monitor the status of the entire workout session and the performance of each trainee. Meanwhile, the primary electronic control console 20 is able to directly manipulate the secondary electronic control console of the exercise apparatuses for the trainees for conducting a uniform adjustment of the exercise resistance level of their exercise apparatuses. Besides, the coach/trainer can realize if the trainees require an individual adjustment of the exercise resistance level. Furthermore, the coach/trainer may easily pay attention to and understand each trainee's physical condition for ensuring the training safety.

According to the invention, a control system of exercise apparatuses for aid in group training includes a primary electronic control console and several secondary electronic control consoles. A control software program, a message transmitter and a message receiver are installed in each of the electronic control consoles of the same exercise apparatuses for controlling the exercise apparatuses and recording the operation status thereof. They are regarded as a basic electronic control equipment. The primary electronic control console can receive all exercise messages transmitted from all of the secondary electronic control consoles. Thereafter, the exercise messages can be clearly displayed on a data display zone of a display. At the same time, the control instructions will be transmitted to each of the secondary electronic control console by use of an external control keyboard, the message transmitter, and the message receiver. In this way, the exercise resistance level of the exercise apparatuses can be remote-controlled, thereby achieving the expected training effect and ensuring the training safety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and its accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a preferred embodiment of the invention applied to fitness bikes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show various embodiments of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a control system in accordance with the invention is installed in exercise apparatuses 10 (such as fitness bike). The control system includes a primary electronic control console 20 and several secondary electronic control consoles 30. A control software program, a message transmitter 40 and a message receiver 50 are installed in each of the electronic control consoles 20, 30 of the same exercise apparatuses 10 for controlling the exercise apparatuses 10 and recording the operation status thereof. They are regarded as a basic electronic control equipment. The primary electronic control console 20 can receive all exercise messages transmitted from all of the secondary electronic control consoles 30. Thereafter, the exercise messages can be clearly displayed on a data display zone 22 of a display 21. At the same time, the control instructions will be transmitted to each of the secondary electronic control console 30 by use of an external control keyboard 23, the message transmitter 40, and the message receiver 50. In this way, the exercise resistance level of the exercise apparatuses 10 can be remote-controlled, thereby achieving the expected training and safety effect.

Of course, all of the electronic control consoles 20, 30 are each fitted with an internal control keyboard 24, 32 for controlling the corresponding exercise apparatus 10. Moreover, the secondary electronic control consoles 30 each have a display 31 for displaying the exercise data and the control status.

The control software program belongs to the prior art and no further descriptions are given hereinafter.

In order to allow the coach/trainer to obtain the physical state difference among the trainees, the display 21 of the primary electronic control console 20 further includes an area 25 for rating the external data such that the physical state or the “exercise work” of each trainee can be obtained through the simple and clear display data. If the physical state of one trainee is much lower than that of the others, he can be transferred to another class having a proper level for him.

Alternatively, a special training program can be extra made for him to avoid the risk of physical exhaustion. Furthermore, it is avoided that the trainee gives up the further training courses just because he has difficulty in keeping up with the progress.

The primary electronic control consol 20 is able to remote-control the exercise resistance level of the exercise apparatus 10 originally controlled by the secondary electronic control console 30. However, the exercise resistance level can also be adjusted via the internal control keyboard 32 within the secondary electronic control console 30 when the trainee can't overcome the load created by the present exercise resistance level. The data regarding the adjustment of the exercise resistance level will be transmitted back to the primary electronic control console 20 to allow the coach/trainer to obtain this message.

Both wired and wireless transmission technology can be employed for transmitting or receiving the above-mentioned messages. The wired or wireless transmission technology has long been used in all electronic devices today. In addition, the exercise apparatuses 10 such as fitness bikes, elliptical cross trainer, etc. are all existing conventional sports equipment. As a result, no further descriptions thereto are given hereinafter.

Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiments of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An control system of exercise apparatuses for aid in group training, comprising a primary electronic control console and a plurality of secondary electronic control consoles, wherein a control software program, a message transmitter and a message receiver are installed within the primary electronic control console mounted on an exercise apparatus for controlling the exercise apparatus 10 and recording the operation status thereof, and the primary electronic control console includes, at the top thereof, a display at a data display zone, an external control keyboard, and an internal control keyboard; wherein a control software program, a message transmitter and a message receiver compatible to the primary electronic control console are installed within each of the secondary electronic control consoles mounted on the exercise apparatuses for controlling the corresponding exercise apparatuses and recording the operation status thereof, and the secondary electronic control consoles each includes, at the top thereof, a display and an internal control keyboard, whereby the primary electronic control console can receive all exercise messages transmitted from all of the secondary electronic control consoles 30; thereafter, the exercise messages can be clearly displayed on the data display zone of the display; at the same time, the control instructions will be transmitted to each of the secondary electronic control console by use of the external control keyboard, the message transmitter, and the message receiver, such that the exercise resistance level of the exercise apparatuses can be remote-controlled.
 2. The control system of exercise apparatuses for aid in group training as recited in claim 1, wherein the display of the primary electronic control console further includes an area for rating the external data. 